Federal Budget ActivityThis week we learned about how laws get made by the legislative branch of our government. One of the biggest laws that regularly gets made by Congress is the Federal Budget.. The Federal Budget is a law that spells out how the government will spend its money. This is a huge power that Congress has that is often called, “The Power of the Purse.” If the Congress doesn’t give the government money to do something in the Budget, the government won’t have the resources do what it might want to do.Part 1 - Create Your BudgetTo create your budget, you must use the website: The Debt FixerNote: if the CRFB Debt Fixer website is not working, you may use the Federal Balancing Act: An Interactive Budget Simulation website in its place. You are still required to turn in screenshots of your choices.Once you are at The Debt Fixer website and ready to begin click the “next” button. (Use the images below to help you navigate the site.)Begin to make your budget selections by selecting various check boxes. Click the “i” icon next to each line item if you want more information about any particular budget line item.Once you have sufficiently addressed each of the specific budget line items and arrived at the tab labeled “results,” click the printer icon beneath the text that says "Print and follow the on-screen instructions detailing how to export your results as a .pdf document.Do not forget to also submit your essay. You can upload multiple files in a single assignment submission. If you need help with this please contact your student advisor or instructor.It is strongly recommended that you use the Chrome or Firefox web browser for this activity. If you are having trouble getting your final results to display or are having difficulty exporting your final results as a PDF file, please try the following steps:(1) Use the Chrome or Firefox web browser.(2) Take and upload screen shots of your budget selections to Blackboard along with your essay for this assignment.(3) Contact your instructor to make alternative arrangements.Part 2 - Federal Budget Activity Reflection EssayIn at least 500 words answer the following questions:Provide a justification of the budget choices you made within one of the following categories: Defense, Domestic, Social Security, Healthcare (you may NOT choose to focus on the categories labeled: “Budget Path,” “Other,” “Revenue,” or “Tax Expenditures”). In this defense you must address possible counter arguments to the budget decisions you made. If you are spending more under this category how are you going to get new revenue or gain public support for more deficit spending? If you are cutting funds – what are you going to do with these surplus funds?Discuss how this assignment impacted your understanding of the budget process, and the debates between the parties and within Congress have regarding the federal budget? Do you think anything should be done to streamline the current budget process?Discuss how difficult this would have been to do this activity as a group project – what budget issues would have been contentious? How could you have come to a compromise?Don’t forget to upload your pdf file of the budget as well as the text of your essay in your assignment submission. Both parts of this assignment at once must be submitted for grading.View your assignment rubric.Creating and Argument: The Electoral CollegeThis week we learned about the presidency, the powers of the presidency, and the unique way our president is elected via the Electoral College. In this assignment you will be guided in creating a complete argument regarding whether or not you think the Electoral College should be kept or eliminated.This activity will be useful practice in how to create and present and thoughtful argument. The ability to create and communicate a thoughtful argument will help you out in future studies and in any career.Your essay must be at least 500 words long.Follow these steps to create an argument in the form of an essay:Step 1In one or two very clear sentences state whether or not you think the Electoral College should be kept or eliminated. This is called writing a thesis statement.Step 2In three paragraphs describing three (3) arguments that support your position regarding the Electoral College. Give each argument one paragraph. Do not just list three arguments in support of your position regarding the Electoral College. You must tell the reader why each of your three arguments supports your position on the Electoral College.Step 3In three paragraphs describe three (3) arguments that go against your position regarding the Electoral College. This is called addressing counterarguments. Give each counterargument one paragraph. Describe the counterargument and then tell the reader of your essay why that counterargument should be dismissed.Step 4Write one paragraph concluding your essay. Restate your initial position on the Electoral College. And review the one or two arguments that you found to be the most compelling in support of your position.Step 5Write a reference list. In any good argument you will present your ideas but then include evidence from credible external sources to support your ideas. Always include a reference list.In outline form your paper should look like this.1.Introduction: Thesis statement of your position regarding the Electoral College.2.Three arguments supporting your position.a.Describe argument 1 and why it supports your position.b.Describe argument 2 and why it supports your position.c.Describe argument 3 and why it supports your position.3.Three counter arguments opposing your position.a.Describe counter argument 1 and why it is not sufficient.b.Describe counter argument 2 and why it is not sufficient.c.Describe counter argument 3 and why it is not sufficient.4.Conclusion paragraph.Please note: APA formatting and citations rules apply to this and all essays in this course.As with all weekly written assignments, submit your work as an attached file. Double-space your paper and use 12 point Times New Roman as your font.View your assignment rubric.Supreme Court Ruling AnalysisThe Supreme Court is made up of nine justices who are responsible for deciding whether or not laws are in line with the U.S. Constitution. These individuals serve life-long appointments once they are nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. Below is a list of some of the most controversial decisions in the last few decades by the Supreme Court. These cases are often mentioned by politicians during campaigns because the issues are still debated, even after the Supreme Court’s ruling.Write an essay analyzing one of the following key Supreme Court rulings:National Federation of Independent Businesses v. SebeliusDistrict of Columbia v. HellerRoe v. Wade (abortion rights)Citizens United v. Federal Election CommissionObergefell v. HodgesYour essay must be at least 500 words long.Answer these questions to complete your analysis of your selected Supreme Court ruling.Tell the reader which of the five key Supreme Court ruling you selected to analyze.What was the law being challenged in the case?Tell me any of the states or government entities that were part of the case.Who was the Petitioner in the Case?What was the Petitioner’s argument?Who was Respondent?What was the Respondent’s argument?What part or parts of the Constitution were discussed in the case?Why were those parts of the Constitution discussed in the case?What was the final Supreme Court rulingoWhat was the final score of the case was (for example 5 to 4 or 7 to 2 or some other combo that, in most cases, adds up to 9)oWhat was the date that the case was decided?oWhich side won, was it the petitioner or the respondent?oWhat did it mean that this particular side won?This is the most important part of the assignment: how does this case currently impact your life and the lives of Americans? Explore the political and electoral consequences of the ruling. Don’t just say, for example in the case of Roe v. Wade, women can now have abortions because only a small percent of the population is of childbearing potential – how did the case impact everyone else more generally? Think about how even this current or most recent presidential election was impacted by the ruling you have analyzed.Provide a reference list.Please note: APA formatting and citations rules apply to this and all essays in this course.As with all weekly written assignments, submit your work as an attached file. Double-space your paper and use 12 point Times New Roman as your font.View your assignment rubric.

ASSIGNMENT: Using your outline and annotated bibliography from Touchstones 1.2 and 2.2, draft a 6-8 page argumentative research essay on your chosen topic.In order to foster learning and growth, all essays you submit must be newly written specifically for this course. Any recycled work will be sent back with a 0, and you will be given one attempt to redo the Touchstone.As this assignment builds on Touchstone 2.2: Create an Annotated Bibliography, that Touchstone must be graded before you can submit your research essay draft.Sample Touchstone 3A. Assignment GuidelinesDIRECTIONS: Refer to the list below throughout the writing process. Do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.1. Argumentative Thesis Statement❒ Have you included a thesis in your introduction that takes a clear, specific position on one side of a debatable issue?2. Argument Development❒ Are all of the details relevant to the purpose of your essay?❒ Is the argument supported using rhetorical appeals and source material?❒ Is your essay 6-8 pages (approximately 1500-2000 words)? If not, which details do you need to add or remove?3. Research❒ Have you cited outside sources effectively using quotation, summary, or paraphrase techniques?❒ Are the sources incorporated smoothly, providing the reader with signal phrases and context for the source information?❒ Have you referenced a range of at least 7 credible sources?❒ Have you properly cited your sources according to APA style guidelines?❒ Have you included an APA style reference page below your essay?4. Reflection❒ Have you answered all reflection questions thoughtfully and included insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses?❒ Are your answers included on a separate page below the main assignment?B. ReflectionDIRECTIONS: Below your assignment, include answers to all of the following reflection questions.Provide one example of a place where you have used rhetorical appeals or source material to support your argument. How does this enhance your essay? (2-3 sentences)Touchstone 4 is a revision of this draft. What kind of feedback would be helpful for you as you revise? Are there parts of your draft that you’re uncertain of? (3-4 sentences)C. Rubric Advanced (90-100%)Proficient (80-89%)Acceptable (70-79%)Needs Improvement (50-69%)Non-Performance (0-49%)Argument Development and SupportProvide a clear argument with sufficient support.The argument is thoroughly developed with highly relevant details to support it, including the use of rhetorical appeals and source material.The argument is well-developed with relevant details to support it, including the use of rhetorical appeals and source material.The argument is not fully developed; while it is supported by some relevant details, including rhetorical appeals and source material, some aspects of the argument are neglected.The argument is poorly developed with irrelevant details that frequently distract from the argument; there is little evidence of the use of rhetorical appeals and/or source material.The argument is not developed and/or the composition is not argumentative; details are irrelevant and distract from the argument.ResearchIncorporate sources through effective quotations, paraphrases, and summaries.Cites all outside sources appropriately; incorporates credible sources smoothly and effectively through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary.Primarily cites outside sources appropriately; incorporates credible sources effectively through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary.Generally cites outside sources appropriately; incorporates credible sources adequately through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary.Cites outside sources, but most are cited improperly; incorporates sources through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary, but the integration is not smooth and/or the credibility of the sources is unclear.Does not cite sources, or citation is consistently inappropriate; does not reference sources and/or sources are not credible or appropriate.OrganizationExhibit competent organizational writing techniques.Includes all of the required components of an argumentative research paper, including an introduction with relevant and engaging background information and an argumentative thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs with topic sentences, a body paragraph addressing counterargument(s), and a conclusion with a concluding statement.Includes all of the required components of an argumentative research paper, including an introduction with background information, an argumentative thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs with topic sentences, a body paragraph addressing counterargument(s), and a conclusion with a concluding statement.Includes nearly all of the required components of an argumentative research paper; however, one component is missing.Includes most of the required components of an argumentative research paper, but is lacking two components; sequences ideas and paragraphs such that the connections between ideas (within and between paragraphs) are sometimes unclear and the reader may have difficulty following the progression of the argument.Lacks several or all of the components of an argumentative research paper; sequences ideas and paragraphs such that the connections between ideas (within and between paragraphs) are often unclear and the reader has difficulty following the progression of the argument.StyleEstablish a consistent, informative tone and make thoughtful stylistic choices.Demonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices, avoids redundancy and imprecise language, and uses a wide variety of sentence structures.Demonstrates effective word choices, primarily avoids redundancy and imprecise language, and uses a variety of sentence structures.Demonstrates generally effective style choices, but may include occasional redundancies, imprecise language, poor word choice, and/or repetitive sentence structures.Frequently includes poor word choices, redundancies, imprecise language, and/or repetitive sentence structures.Consistently demonstrates poor word choices, redundancies, imprecise language, and/or repetitive sentence structures.ConventionsFollow conventions for standard written English.There are only a few, if any, negligible errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are occasional minor errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are some significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are frequent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.There are consistent significant errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage.ReflectionAnswer reflection questions thoroughly and thoughtfully.Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently includes insights, observations, and/or examples in all responses, following or exceeding response length guidelines.Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; includes multiple insights, observations, and/or examples, following response length guidelines.Primarily demonstrates thoughtful reflection, but some responses are lacking in detail or insight; primarily follows response length guidelines.Shows limited reflection; the majority of responses are lacking in detail or insight, with some questions left unanswered or falling short of response length guidelines.No reflection responses are present.D. RequirementsThe following requirements must be met for your submission to be graded:Composition must be 6-8 pages (approximately 1500-2000 words).Double-space the composition and use one-inch margins.Use a readable 12-point font.All writing must be appropriate for an academic context.Composition must be original and written for this assignment.Plagiarism of any kind is strictly prohibited.Submission must include your name, the name of the course, the date, and the title of your composition.Include all of the assignment components in a single file.Acceptable file formats include .doc and .docx.Your annotated bibliography must be graded before your research essay draft will be accepted.